swmbo's Sept 2012 Citigo is due its 4th service, all previous were part of a service agreement.

Had dealer ringing insisting it is due a cambelt on this visit?

I know it is either time or mileage and with 9k miles on the clock it ain't due on the later.

What is the recommended replacement interval and what did anyone pay if you had it done?

Regards

Ben

Edited 9 August, 20169 yr by Defenderben

Email from Skoda 25/08/15

Subject:               SD-2015/08-015727

 

Dear Mr Handley

 

Thank you for your email dated 23 August regarding your ŠKODA Fabia.

 

I have checked with our Technical Department, and they have confirmed the Factory would recommend that the cam belt is changed every 140,000 miles or five years, whichever comes first

 

I hope this information proves useful. Should you require any further details then please feel free to contact me on the telephone number listed below.

 

Thank you once again for contacting ŠKODA UK Customer Services.

 

Kind regards

^^^^yes, discussed at length on here some time ago. The Citigo has a "long-life" design...hence the very large mileage recommendation....your dealer needs some education on the matter, or is trying it on!

My 2012 Mii has just had its 4th service (at 25k) and the dealer wanted to replace spark plugs in addition to the usual items but after some discussion we're leaving it for another year. No mention of doing the cambelt.

 

I've owned this now for 3 years with no issues except a puncture. I can  probably say now that it's the most reliable car I've ever had.

You didn't get the plugs replaced? Me a Hyphons replaced his and it made a huge difference to the running of the car

240 000 km and no time limit, when I checked it last time from here: https://erwin.skoda-auto.cz/erwin/showHome.do

So better ask another opinion somewhere. :-)

240 000 km and no time limit, when I checked it last time from here: https://erwin.skoda-auto.cz/erwin/showHome.do

So better ask another opinion somewhere. :-)

Only 10,000 mile difference between that and Skoda UK but Skoda UK have a time limit of 5 years, but then, VAG in the UK have put time limits on where other markets haven't.

Does the Skoda technical website still not mention the 5 years?

 

I have a feeling they might have updated it to every 5 years

 

 

I know that the toothed belt was designed to last a huge amount of miles, but this new "every 5 years" thing is a bit concerning.

 

Phoned Citigo customer service today and they also said every 5 years and that was based on the chassis number information, not a general Skoda rule

Edited 10 August, 20169 yr by brockbeast

Welcome to Briskoda Brock

 

Glad you made the short trip over from the Up! Forum

 

As I said on the other site, I'm doing mine at 4 year or 60000 as I have done in every VAG car I've owned.

 

Peace of mind for a couple of hundred pounds instead of a new engine is much preferred.

 

Just don't know why they can't categorically state the time and miles so there is no disputing.

Edited 10 August, 20169 yr by Damo

snip....

 

Peace of mind for a couple of hundred pounds instead of a new engine is much preferred.

 

Just don't know why they can't categorically state the time and miles so there is no disputing.

that would be to simple and leave no wiggle room on warranty claim

 

oh sorry is that me being too cynical????

The email I got back from Skoda technical was quite clear as to 5 years or 140,000 miles whichever came first.

Thanks for info, I've tended to do my cambelt on my previous vehicles at 5 years, if I've kept them that long.

To be told it is due now and should be done on a car just coming to 4 years old with 9k on the clock was a bit concerning.

Regards

There was a post on here from "owens" which had a clear email from Skoda saying that it was 160,000 miles ONLY. Not the 5 year timespan.

 

 

Here is a link to the belt in the up

http://www.contitech.de/pages/produkte/antriebsriemen/kfz-erstausruestung/vw-up_en.html

 

"All components have been designed to last the life of the engine, which means that the tension remains constant over the vehicle's entire service life."

Edited 10 August, 20169 yr by brockbeast

Do not want to be rude but that is for the "Auxiliary" belt, the cambelt or timing belt is an internal toothed belt with a tensioner etc

Edited 10 August, 20169 yr by Defenderben

Do not want to be rude but that is for the "Auxiliary" belt, the cambelt or timing belt is an internal toothed belt with a tensioner etc

 

Thanks! I am clearly not an expert with cars!

How much does the cam belt change cost?

Then there is another toothed belt for the water pump at the other end of the engine. How often it should be maintained?

I guess not many have changed those belts yet.

Edited 11 August, 20169 yr by Emil

JimmyR says, If it can be "checked at 160,000 miles and assessed and replaced if required" why can't the same assessment happen at 5 years or 10 years or at 7,000 miles or 15,000 miles etc? 

 

As shown in the attachment, Skoda Fixed Price Maintenance charge is £335 for a cambelt change and £435 for cambelt with water pump.  I'm not sure if that just means a water pump AND belt or just the pump belt itself.

  

* Includes cambelt, tensioners and rollers as required.  Prices offered in our Fixed price servicing offer are the maximum selling prices. ŠKODA Authorised Repairers are free to offer prices lower than this offer.

============================================================================================================================  

 

From…  Skoda UK Customer Services (Email received today, Saturday 27th August 2016)              

               

Subject:               SD-2016/08-******

 

Re: ŠKODA Citigo Elegance

 

Dear JimmyR

 

Thank you for your recent enquiry regarding the recommended interval for changing the timing belt on your vehicle. Please accept my apologies for the delay in our response.

 

I have discussed your query with our Technical Support Team. They have confirmed that the ŠKODA UK recommendation for the timing belt change interval on your vehicle is every five years, or it needs to be checked at 160,000 miles and assessed and replaced if required, whichever comes first.

 

I hope this information proves useful. If we can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us on the number below.

               

Thank you for contacting ŠKODA UK.

 

Kind regards

 

 

Dean D Goodwin

Customer Relations Advisor

ŠKODA UK | Selectapost 34 | Sheffield | S97 3FA

Tel: +44 (0)333 0037 504

[email protected] | www.skoda.co.uk | www.skoda-auto.com

Edited 27 August, 20169 yr by JimmyR

It's not free to check the belt. I guess that's why it's not checked more often.

To me the answer is odd. There is cambelt, and then there is a belt for water pump. If they change water pump and water pump belt for 100£, it sounds cheap to me.

Popped into dealer to find out why they insist the cambelt is due replacement at 4th service and only 9k miles.

Now say not required and service is not a major but a minor plus the pollen filter @ a mere £199.00.

Oil change and filter for nearly £200... off to an independent for considerably less hopefully. No real need to keep it main dealer serviced now as swmbo is keeping it until the wheels fall off.

Had MOT today, straight through, no advisories such a cheap car to have

Popped into dealer to find out why they insist the cambelt is due replacement at 4th service and only 9k miles.

Now say not required and service is not a major but a minor plus the pollen filter @ a mere £199.00.

Oil change and filter for nearly £200... off to an independent for considerably less hopefully. No real need to keep it main dealer serviced now as swmbo is keeping it until the wheels fall off.

Had MOT today, straight through, no advisories such a cheap car to have

Just had my 4 th service @ 18900 and MOT preparation . cost £205.and got a wee video clip of the preparation done by the technician. and sailed through the MOT this morning. Now just have to decide whether to keep or sell.

Got a yeti in January on contract but the citigo is currently costing nothing but insurance and maintenance Decesions Decesions.

No mention of cambelts although I got a mailshot from the dealer I purchased from. Just trying to make a easy buck IMHO

Edited 13 September, 20169 yr by aernala

I popped into eurocar parts and for £25 bagged a new Mann air & pollen filter,local garage will do service, oil & filter change for approx £80 so bit of a saving for moment, considering the miles.

MOT was only £30 too, so all in all a really inexpensive car to keep. Especially being group 1 insurance as well

Other than last year's £30 MOT, it has cost us very little as it was on a 3 year service plan, paid for by the first owner who managed a whole 400 miles before we got it at a few months old.